Chapter 4 - THE STORY THEY TOLD FIRST
The sheriff’s cruiser blocked both lanes.
Ray slowed.
“No sudden movements.”
“I know.”
“I mean it.”
“I’ve dealt with checkpoints in Afghanistan, Ray.”
“This isn’t Afghanistan.”
“No.”
I looked at Noah.
“This is worse.”
Two deputies stepped from the cruiser.
Weapons remained holstered, but their hands were ready.
Ray stopped the truck.
“Hands where they can see them.”
I rolled down my window.
“Ma’am, step out slowly.”
“My six-year-old son is inside. He has asthma and has been exposed to freezing temperatures.”
“We’ll handle him.”
“I’m his mother.”
“Step out.”
I obeyed.
A deputy guided me toward the rear of the truck.
“Name?”
“Lieutenant Colonel Claire Bennett. United States Army.”
He studied me.
“Identification?”
“My parents stole my wallet.”
The deputy’s expression changed slightly.
Of course it did.
No ID.
Dead phone.
Child in another person’s truck.
Uncle with nervous eyes.
Parents reporting kidnapping.
I sounded insane.
“What happened tonight?”
“My parents abandoned us approximately eleven miles north of Beatty.”
“Your parents say you became violent during a family disagreement.”
“They’re lying.”
“They said you took the child after threatening self-harm.”
“I am the child’s legal custodial parent.”
“Can you prove that?”
“Not without my wallet or phone.”
The second deputy opened the passenger door.
Noah grabbed my sleeve.
“Mom!”
“It’s okay.”
The deputy crouched.
“Hey, buddy. I’m Deputy Martinez.”
Noah stared at him.
“Is Grandpa going to hit our truck again?”
Martinez stopped.
The first deputy looked at me.
“What did he say?”
I didn’t answer.
I wanted Noah to answer.
Martinez asked gently, “What happened?”
“Grandpa made us get out.”
“Where?”
“The road.”
“Who?”
“Me and Mommy.”
“Then what happened?”
“Grandpa left.”
Noah pointed behind us.
“Then Uncle Ray came, and Grandpa hit his truck.”
Silence.
Ray exhaled.
The first deputy reached for his radio.
Then my parents arrived.
Walter pulled onto the shoulder.
Diane was out before the SUV stopped moving.
“Oh my God!”
She ran toward us.
“Claire!”
I stepped back.
“Don’t touch me.”
Mom froze.
Then the performance began.
She covered her mouth.
Tears appeared almost instantly.
“My daughter isn’t well.”
I stared at her.
Dad walked toward the deputy.
“She’s been under tremendous stress since returning from deployment.”
I hadn’t returned from deployment.
I had been stationed at Fort Carson for nineteen months.
“She’s confused,” Dad continued.
“That’s enough.”
Everyone looked at me.
I pointed to the SUV.
“Search it.”
Walter smiled sadly.
“For what, honey?”
“My wallet. My apartment keys. My phone charger.”
Diane shook her head.
“She gave those things to me.”
“Then they’re in your purse.”
Mom’s hand tightened around her purse.
The deputy noticed.
“Ma’am?”
Diane smiled.
“Of course.”
She opened it.
My wallet was inside.
So were my keys.
Deputy Martinez looked at Walter.
My father’s face barely changed.
I took one slow breath.
“And check beneath the driver’s seat.”
Walter snapped his eyes toward me.
That reaction was enough.
The deputy noticed it too.
“What’s underneath the seat?”
“I don’t know.”
I did.
Hours earlier, while Dad was paying for gas, I had seen a small black device wired beneath the dashboard.
He had told me it was an insurance tracker.
I hadn’t believed him.
Martinez walked toward the SUV.
Dad moved.
“Officer, there’s no reason—”
“Sir, stay here.”
Martinez opened the driver’s door.
He crouched.
Thirty seconds later, he stood holding a small electronic box.
Ray muttered, “Jesus.”
The deputy examined it.
“What is this?”
I looked at Dad.
“You tell him.”
Walter’s jaw tightened.
He said nothing.
The other deputy’s radio crackled.
Dispatch.
A woman’s voice came through.
“Unit Twelve, be advised, we’ve located an abandoned vehicle approximately three miles north of your position.”
The deputy pressed his radio.
“Description?”
Dispatch answered.
“Dark sedan registered to Robert Haines.”
Ray went pale.
I looked at him.
“Who is Robert Haines?”
Ray swallowed.
“Our accountant.”
May you like
The radio crackled again.
“There appears to be blood inside the vehicle.”
